John heald



(No Model.)

- J. HEALD.

WATER KEY FOR BRASS MUSIGAL INSTRUMENTS. N0. 265,498. Patented 0011.3,1882..

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HEALD, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES W.HUTOHINS, OF SAME PLACE.

WATER-KEY FOR BRASS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,498, dated October3, 1882.

' Application filed July 25,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN HEALD, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden andState of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful improvements inWater-Keys for Brass Musical instruments, of which the following is aspecification.

This'invention relates to brass musical instruments; and it consistsofan improved construction of the water-key for cornets and analogousinstruments, the object being to provide improved devices for operatingthe watervalve thereof, whereby the player is not re- 1 5 quired toremove theinstrumentfrom his mouth nor his hand from the instrument inorder to operate the water-valve.

In the drawing forming part of this speciti' cation is illustrated acornet constructed with appliances for operating the watervalve thereof,embodying my invention.

In the drawing, B B are the air-conductors of the cornet to which thewater-valves are applied, a a indicating said valves. 0 is a lorkedlver,

to the ends of the arms of which said valves are secured in the ordinaryway. Said lever c is pivoted to the lower part of the instru' ment, asusual; but instead of carrying its shank 'v rearward thereunder andsupplying it 0 with a finger-hook for operating it to open the valves,as is usually done, said shank is turned upward, as shown, and haspivoted to its end a link, 6. The opposite end of said link 0 is pivotedto thelowerend ofa pivotedlever, (1, whose upper long arm reaches upwardto a convenient point, where it can be reached by one of the fingers ofthe player, and be operated at will at short rests in the music, to openthe valves a and let the water of condensation escape from theconductors B B, thereby keep- .0

ing the instrument free of water. A spring, .70, operates to close saidvalves when lever 01 is released by the player.

When the lever 0 is constructed and applied to instruments of this classin the ordinary way, as above described, the player is obligedfrequently to remove the instrument from his mouth, or one hand from thecornet, to open the water-valve, thereby obliging him to ceaseplayingforthat purpose; butinstrumentspro- 5o vided with theabove-described improved devices for operating said valves are free fromsaid inconveniences attendant upon the aforesaid old construction.

XVhat I claim as my invention is- In a brass musical instrument, thecombination, with the water-valve lever thereof, of the finger-lever (Zand the link 0, arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

JOHN HEALD. Witnesses:

H. A. GHAPIN, 1t. F. HYDE.

